Tray closure mechanism for a photographic processing apparatus



Jan. 24, 1967 A. J. NARDONE ETAL 3,299,792

TRAY CLOSURE MECHANISM FOR A PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSING APPARATUS Filed June 5, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ANTHONY J- NARDONE ROBERT F BLATTNER INVENTORS ATTORNEYS 1967 A; J. NARDONE ETAL 3,

TRAY CLOSURE MECHANISM FOR A PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSING APPARATUS Filed June 5, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ANTHONY J- NARDONE ROBERT F- BLATTNER INVENTORS FIG-4 BY JQZ Q M ATTORNEYS 1967 A. J. NARDONE ETAL 3,

TRAY CLOSURE MECHANISM FOR A PHOTOGR-APHIC PROCESSING APPARATUS Filed June 5, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIG- 5 ANTHONY J- NARDONE ROBERT F- BLATTNER INVENTORS JZOAZLWZW ATTORNE s United States Patent Oflice 3 ,299,792 Patented Jan. 24, 1967 3,299,792 TRAY CLOSURE MECHANISM FOR A PHOTO- GRAPHHC PROCESSING APPARATUS Anthony J. Nardone and Robert F. Blattner, both of Rochester, N.Y., assignors to Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Filed June 5, 1964, Ser. No. 373,021 7 Claims. (Cl. 95-89) This invention relates generally to a photographic processing apparatus, and more specifically to a processing solution tray closure mechanism for a photographic processing and image-transfer device or the like.

Photographic processing apparatus in which an exposed sensitized photographic sheet is processed in a suitable processing solution and withdrawn in contact with a second sheet, which is nonsensitized, to cause transfer of an image from the first sheet to the second are Well known in the art. Heretofore, the entrance to the processing solution tray has been at least partially exposed to atmosphere. Although some evaporation resulted, this did not prove to be unduly detrimental because the activator did not have a very long life and normally had to be replaced before solution concentration due to evaporation had proceeded to a point to cause trouble. However, with the advent of long-run processing solutions, and the provision of pumping units for pumping the solution between the processing tray and a storage receptacle, the problem of concentration of the processing solution due to evaporation has become very important since it upsets the chemical balance which interferes with the production of good copies. This objectionable concentration of the processing solution due to evaporation has been substantially eliminated by applicants solution tray closure mechanism.

Accordingly, one of the objects of this invention is to provide a processing solution tray closure mechanism for a photographic processing apparatus to prevent evaporation of the processing solution.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tray closure mechanism for the processing tray of a photographic processing apparatus that is of simple design and construction, tho-roughly reliable and eflicient in operation, and economical to manufacture.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a processing solution tray closure mechanism for a photographic processing apparatus comprising a flexible sheet interposed between a fixed portion of the tray, and a squeegee mechanism or the like at the entrance of the tray and which is movable between open and closed positions.

Objects and advantages other than those set forth above will be apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a segmental side elevation view in section of a photographic copying apparatus in which one embodiment of a tray closure mechanism shown in its closed position is incorporated;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the tray closure mechanism in an open position;

FIG. 3 is a segmental top plan view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a segmental view in perspective of the flexible sheet member of the tray closure mechanism; and

FIG. 5 is a segmental side elevation view in section similar to FIG. 1 showing another embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, a portion of a photographic processing apparatus is disclosed in which a preferred embodiment of a tray closure mechanism is incorporated for substantially eliminating evaporation of a processing solution from the apparatus. Since the processing apparatus is of the type disclosed in US. Patent No. 3,099,208, it will not be described in detail, being limited only to those features that co-openate with the tray closure mechanism.

A tray 12 for holding a processing solution 14 comprises a base 16 having a front wall 18 and a curved upper wall 20 forming floor for solution 14. The tray 12 further has a cover 22 having an upper wall 23 with one end 24 thereof terminating short of upper wall 20 to provide a tray opening or mouth 26. The cover 22 further has depending, spaced apart ribs 28, only one of which is shown, for guiding a matrix, not shown, that is manually inserted through tray opening 26 into solution 14.

A pressing and squeegeeing mechanism 30 for pressing a copy sheet, not shown, into engagement with a matrix and for squeegeeing the excess solution therefrom comprises a shaft 32 rotatably carried by base 16 of tray 12. A pair of identical arms 34 are provided, only one of which is shown, secured to each end of shaft 32. The

opposite end of each arm 34 supports one of the ends of a pressure roller 36 and a bracket 37 which supports one of the ends of a squeegee 38 mounted in a U-shaped holder 39. The roller 36 and squeegee 38 extend across the width of tray opening 26. An over-center spring system 40 is mounted in a recess formed by the front and upper walls 18, 20 respectively of the base 16 of tray 12, and has one end thereof secured to shaft 32 and its opposite end extending into a notch 42 formed by the merging of the front and upper walls 18, 20. When the pressing and squeegeeing mechanism 30 is moved by any suitable means such as a handle 31 to its operative or engaged position shown in FIG. 1, over-center spring 40 urges pressure roller 36 and squeegee 38 into engagement with upper wall 20 of base 16. When mechanism 30 is moved to its inoperative or disengaged position as shown in FIG. 2, the pressure roller 36 and squeege 38 are withdrawn from upper wall 20 and held in this disengaged position by over-center spring 40.

The tray closure mechanism 10 for substantially eliminating the evaporation of processing solution 14 comprises a bridging member shown as a flexible sheet member 44 formed from any suitable material such as paper. The front edge 46 of sheet 44 bears against the under side of squeegee holder 39, and further has a notch therein to form a pair of tabs 48 which may be inserted into a U- shaped clip 50 mounted on holder 39 as seen best in FIG. 3. The opposite edge 52 of sheet member 44 has a pair of spaced apart notches 54 (see FIG. 4) adjacent each end thereof through which a clip 56 may be inserted to secure edge 52 to tray cover rib 28 as seen in FIG. 3. The sheet member 44 extends completely across the length of tray opening 26, and has at least one pleat 58 therein to allow the width of member 44 to be variable and accommodate movement of the pressing and squeegeeing mechanism 30 between its operative and inoperative positions as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. It is obvious that when the pressing and squeegeeing mechanism 30 is in its operative position as seen in FIG. 1, that the entire month 26 of the processing tray is covered by the tray closure mechanism 10 so that processing solution 14 is not accessible to the atmosphere. Accordingly, evaporation of the processing solution which results in deleterious alteration of the concentration of the solution is substantially eliminated. When the operator desires to make copy, the pressing and squeegeeing mechanism 30 is moved to its inoperative position only for a suflicient time to enable the operator to manually insert a matrix into solution 14. Consequently, that is the only time that the solution is accessible to the atmosphere, which is normally a very short time relative to the total time that solution 14 is in tray 12.

Although the bridging member 44 is shown in FIG. 4 as a flexible, pleated sheet, applicants have no intention of limiting their invention to a sheet alone. For example, a flexible cloth member impregnated to make it impervious to air could be used. In addition, a stretchable elastic material interconnecting holder 39 and Wall end 24 should work satisfactorily.

In the modification of the invention shown in FIG. 5, parts similar to parts disclosed in FIGS. 1-4 will be denoted by the same numerals primed. In this modification, the pleats 58 are omitted from sheet member 44', and one edge 46 thereof is secured to a squeegee bracket 60 by a screw 62. The other edge 52' of sheet member 44 is bent back to form a V-shaped hook 64, and is s1id-' ably movable along an upper wall 23 of tray cover 22. The inherent tendency of edge 52' of the sheet member 44' to move in a clockwise direction in an effort to straighten out provides an excellent seal to prevent the passage of air past edge 52' of cover member 44' and into engagement with processing solution 14'. In addition, a curved portion 66 of upper wall 23' causes sheet member 44' to be moved to the dotted position as seen in FIG. 5, increasing the pressure of edge 52' against wall portion 66 and hence increasing its scaling properties. To secure better sealing along edge 52 of sheet member 44', a bracket 68 shown as a portion of a pressure arm 70 pivotal about a shaft 72 may be provided spaced apart from wall portion 66 to form an opening narrower than hook 64 to increase the pressure of edge 52 against wall 66. If it is desired to increase the sealing further, a spring may be added, not shown, to urge sheet member 44 in a counterclockwise direction, or sheet member 44' may be constructed from a resilient sheet material mounted as a leaf spring to press against wall portion 66.

If desired, the edge 52 may be omitted eliminating the hook, and the free end of member 44' can slide into a receiving tunnel, not shown, in the tray.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to several embodiments thereof, but it should be understood that additional variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention as described hereinabove and as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a closure mechanism for a tray containing a processing solution and having walls thereof forming a mouth through which access may be had to a photosensitive material introduced into said solution, the combination comprising:

movable means mounted in and extending across the full length of said mouth for movement between an operative position in engagement with a first one of said walls, and an inoperative position removed therefrom to provide an opening between said movable means and first wall through which a photosensitive material may be introduced into said processing solution; and

a bridging member extending across the full length of said mouth and having one edge thereof in engagement with a second wall opposite said first wall, and said opposite edge connected to said movable means and movable therewith so that said mouth is completely closed off when said movable means is moved to its operative position.

2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said sheet member is flexible.

3. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said sheet member is pleated, and said one edge is secured to said second wall.

4. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said one edge of said sheet member is bent "back on itself and is in slidable engagement with the upper surface of said second wa 5. A bridging member constituting a part of a tray closure mechanism for closing an entrance to the processing tray and including a moving part movable to and from one side of said entrance for closing and opening said entrance, respectively, the combination comprising:

means on one edge of said bridging member for releasably securing said one edge to said movable part to move therewith; and

means on the opposite edge of said bridging member for sealing said opposite edge to the other side of said entrance to prevent the free passage of atmosphere through said entrance.

6. The invention according to claim 5 wherein said bridging member is a sheet having pleats therein interposed between said edges and parallel thereto.

7. The invention according to claim 5 wherein said sealing means comprises said opposite edge being bent back on itself and in slidable engagement with a surface contiguous with said other side of said entrance.

References (Iited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 629,542 7/ 1899 Burfield -36 1,263,619 4/1918 Stanley 9536 2,747,479 5/ 1956 Babcock 95-89 3,241,485 3/1966 Hodges 95-89 X NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner.

C. B. PRICE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A CLOSURE MECHANISM FOR A TRAY CONTAINING A PROCESSING SOLUTION AND HAVING WALLS THEREOF FORMING A MOUTH THROUGH WHICH ACCESS MAY BE HAD TO A PHOTOSENSITIVE MATERIAL INTRODUCED INTO SAID SOLUTION, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING: MOVABLE MEANS MOUNTED IN AND EXTENDING ACROSS THE FULL LENGTH OF SAID MOUTH FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN AN OPERATIVE POSITION IN ENGAGEMENT WITH A FIRST ONE OF SAID WALLS, AND AN INOPERATIVE POSITION REMOVED THEREFROM TO PROVIDE AN OPENING BETWEEN SAID MOVABLE MEANS AND FIRST WALL THROUGH WHICH A PHOTOSENSITIVE MATERIAL MAY BE INTRODUCED INTO SAID PROCESSING SOLUTION; AND A BRIDGING MEMBER EXTENDING ACROSS THE FULL LENGTH OF SAID MOUTH AND HAVING ONE EDGE THEREOF IN ENGAGEMENT WITH A SECOND WALL OPPOSITE SAID FIRST WALL, AND SAID OPPOSITE EDGE CONNECTED TO SAID MOVABLE MEANS AND MOVABLE THEREWITH SO THAT SAID MOUTH IS COMPLETELY CLOSED OFF WHEN SAID MOVABLE MEANS IS MOVED TO ITS OPERATIVE POSITION. 